Israel Says Its Troops Are Only Temporary In Syria's Supporting Area, The US Confirms To Fill In The Vacancies

Israeli troops entered Syria's buffer zone. (Twitter/@manniefabian)

JAKARTA - Israel says its troop presence in Syria's buffer zone is only temporary, a move that the United States has allowed to fill the void in line with developments that have occurred after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

Israel told the United Nations Security Council it had taken "finite and temporary measures" in the demilitarized zone bordering Syria to counter any threats, particularly against residents on the Israeli side of the Golan Heights.

"However, it is important to emphasize that Israel does not intervene in the ongoing conflict between the Syrian armed groups; our actions are solely focused on maintaining our security," Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon wrote in a letter to the 15-member council. , quoted from The Times of Israel.

He added that Israel remains committed to the 1974 troop separation agreement framework, although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the pact had been "collapsed."

Separately, the United States defended the presence of Israeli troops in the Golan Heights, stressing they expected the action to be temporary, as Israel said.

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller explained at a press conference that the Syrian army left a position on its territory in the Golan Heights, amid the collapse of President Assad's regime over the weekend, noting this created a potential vacuum that could be filled by terror organizations threatening Israel.

Justifying the action by the IDF, he said any country would be worried and wanted to take action to prevent the void from occurring. However, he highlighted Israel's public claims that the takeover of Syrian territory in the Golan Heights was temporary.

Miller said the US would monitor Israel's presence and talk to Israeli partners to ensure the takeover by the IDF did not become permanent.

As previously reported, Israel Defense Forces released a new recording showing the Umbrella Falls Troops Brigade deployed to the buffer zone on the border between Israel and Syria.

The 210th Regional Division of the IDF, which serves in the Golan Heights region, has begun deploying troops to the buffer zone within the Syrian territory, including above the Syrian side of Mount Hermon.

The IDF, stressed that its troop deployment to the buffer zone was defensive and temporary action amid chaos in the country following the fall of the Assad regime, but may remain there for a long time depending on its development.

In response, UN Secretary-General spokesman Stphane Dujarric revealed on Monday that United Nations (UNDOF) Release Observer Forces told Israel that its troop presence in Syria's buffer zone would violate the 1974 Agreement on Release with Syria.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he had ordered the military to "take over" the buffer zone, which separates the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights from other Syrian territories.

The United Nations has confirmed that Israeli forces entered the buffer zone and are moving within the region, where they remain at at least three locations, according to Dujarric.

"There should be no troops or military activity in the separation area," he said, according to CNN.

Dujarric also said UNDOF personnel, tasked with guarding the ceasefire between Israel and Syria, overseeing the area of separation and restrictions, remained in their position and carried out mandated activities.

"Currently, the situation in the UNDOF operating area is relatively calm," he said.